Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Xbox 360http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/default.aspxen-USTelligent Community 1.5.134.12297 (Build: 5.5.134.12297)Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Reviewhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/11/08/review.aspxTue, 08 Nov 2011 08:01:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1420709Dan Ryckert0<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modernwarfare610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>It would be easy to dismiss Modern Warfare 3 as just another iterative update to the massively successful shooter series. After attending a preview event this summer, I left with concerns that the Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games collaboration shelved the multiplayer innovation Treyarch introduced with Black Ops in favor of more minor, underwhelming updates. Some of my early concerns proved valid, but many of the incremental tweaks are smart additions to the multiplayer experience. Modern Warfare 3 does little to fundamentally change the well-known franchise formula, but it offers enough enhancements to recommend it to any fan.</p>
<p>On the surface, this Call of Duty experience is similar to the other Modern Warfare games. If a casual fan sat down for a few rounds of team deathmatch or domination, it would be easy to forgive them for mistaking this for a map pack. Its visuals are familiar, most of the weapons are recycled from previous games, the tight gunplay feels similar, maps are still fairly cramped affairs for the most part, assembling a party operates the same, and many of the killstreak rewards return. Modern Warfare 3&rsquo;s most noteworthy tweaks may be smaller changes, but they add up to contribute in a big way.</p>
<p>Custom classes are as crucial to online play as always, and players can choose between three new strike packages for their loadouts. Assault is for offensive-minded players, as its rewards are mostly death-dealing instruments like remote control assault drones, devastating air strikes, and the proximity-based I.M.S. (Intelligent Munition System). If you&rsquo;re outfitted with this package, your killstreak progresses as always &ndash; it builds as you rack up kills, but resets to zero once you&rsquo;re taken down. Considering I&rsquo;m usually heavy on offense, I stuck with the assault package for my first few hours of multiplayer.</p>
<p>The Support package killstreaks are defensive in nature, like SAM turrets, recon drones, and counter-UAVs. They don&rsquo;t have the flash of the deadly assault rewards, but they&rsquo;re still helpful. Unlike the assault package, this package&rsquo;s killstreak count doesn&rsquo;t reset upon death. You wouldn&rsquo;t normally reach one of the crazy 18-kill assault rewards without dying, but now it&rsquo;s feasible to earn the most valuable support items in a single game. This package was even more appealing to me when I unlocked a few offensive rewards, like the remote sentry turret, the B-2 bomber, and the recon juggernaut suit. Once I realized the value of this package, it became my default for the majority of my future rounds.</p>
<p>The final package, Specialist, is for tacticians who strategize formulas for specific game types. Specialist allows you to unlock a specific order of perks as you rack up kills. For instance, let&rsquo;s say you want to create a specialist package for use in Domination. You start with whatever three perks you normally have available, but you could then unlock Extreme Conditioning after a few kills to help you sprint from flag to flag. If you live long enough to capture a few flags, you&rsquo;ll probably be running low on ammo. Not a problem &ndash; you can set your specialist package to unlock Scavenger to help you pick up more ammo. To reap the rewards of this killstreak package, you have to analyze how you play and where you&rsquo;d benefit from the unlocked perks most. For the hardcore crowd, this is an ideal pick.</p>
<p>The Specialist package isn&#39;t the only addition that the hardcore crowd will love, as the new Call of Duty Elite service is an overwhelmingly in-depth feature with many different tools. The team at Beachhead has created a performance tracker that is equal parts comprehensive stats database, clan management system, loadout customization tool, social networking site, and improvement guide. You can see graphs of how your kill/death ratio is trending, customize your clan&rsquo;s callsign and tag, analyze the map locations where you die the most, add friends directly from your XBLA/PSN/Facebook accounts, and even push a new custom class to your console from a free app on your phone. All of the uproar about a premium membership fee seems to be misguided after seeing the final product, as the large majority of the content is free. Members of high-performing clans (of which you can only be a member of one at a time) may want to consider the premium membership, as they make you eligible for prizes like cameras and a free trip to Paris if you&rsquo;re good enough. If you&rsquo;re a casual Call of Duty fan, you can still have a fun time in multiplayer without ever touching Elite. However, this new feature is a boon if you&rsquo;re the type that likes to prestige multiple times.</p>
<p>Strike packages and the Elite service are the biggest additions to online play, but smaller multiplayer features contribute to overall mode improvement as well. Completing objectives like flag captures adds to your killstreak count, and players can cycle through killstreak rewards with the d-pad and select them in the order they wish. Prestige mode counts for something now, as players earn coins to spend on new custom classes, double XP time, or special callsigns. Leveling individual weapons unlocks proficiency abilities like reduced kick or faster fire rate. Customizable private matches allow for absurd and entertaining variations of Juggernaut, Infected, and Gun Game. You won&rsquo;t respawn in the middle of a massive air strike nearly as often, either. Players won&rsquo;t notice many of these changes if they&rsquo;re just popping in for a quick round, but those who spend a lot of time in multiplayer will appreciate them.</p>
<p>Call of Duty&rsquo;s bread and butter has always been its deep multiplayer, but the campaigns deliver their fair share of memorable moments as well. Modern Warfare 3 doesn&rsquo;t stray from the oft-emulated Call of Duty 4 formula. This large-scale, linear, global, and sometimes controversial campaign can be finished in less than six hours.</p>
<p>For the first two or three hours, the game hurries from country to country with a jarring narrative that doesn&rsquo;t succeed in getting much information across. All you know is this Makarov fellow is a bit unsavory, and he wants to kill a lot of people. In your efforts to find and kill him, the game finds excuses to have you shoot up the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, protect the Russian president on a jet, attempt to stop a chemical attack in Paris, and watch a supposedly offensive scene that&rsquo;s essentially a less effective and less necessary version of Modern Warfare 2&rsquo;s &ldquo;No Russian&rdquo; mission. These early scenarios are more concerned with topping the big set piece moments from previous entries in the series than with putting forth a coherent narrative. In one scripted sequence that&rsquo;s awesome, terrible, and hilarious at the same time, I was even forced to shoot a hyena multiple times in the head while I was in a church.</p>
<p>My concerns with the early portions of the campaign have as much to do with gameplay as narrative. It&rsquo;s a constant &ldquo;run here, trigger the enemies, now click between the trigger buttons until everyone is dead&rdquo; experience. As much as the first few hours disappointed me, it gets its act together around the halfway mark. You learn some more about your primary character and his motivations, and the latter half of the campaign isn&rsquo;t filled with the convoluted double-crosses of Modern Warfare 2. Setpiece moments become more intriguing from a gameplay perspective, with one mission involving an approaching sandstorm and an air assault mission that switches perspective back and forth from the ground to the air. By the time the credits roll, the globetrotting ordeal meets a satisfying conclusion.</p>
<p>If you&rsquo;ve wrapped up the campaign and want a break from the standard multiplayer, Spec Ops serves as a great third pillar. This mode is broken into two distinct sections now, with one dedicated to co-op missions like those seen in Modern Warfare 2 and another that&rsquo;s essentially a Horde mode variant. This survival mode is a blast with soldiers, dogs, and vehicles that are far more engaging than plodding zombies. Plus, it has its own in-game economy and ranking system.</p>
<p>When it comes down to it, Modern Warfare 3 meets expectations. The core elements of multiplayer and the campaign remain fundamentally unchanged, but the game serves as a great example of how many subtle tweaks can add up to an improved overall product. Even with the recent turmoil at Infinity Ward, the remnants of that team (in conjunction with Sledgehammer) have put together a worthy sequel to one of the most successful franchises of all time.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1420709" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Sledgehammerreviewbeachheadelitemw3Watch A Video Illustration Of Modern Warfare 3's New Multiplayer Modeshttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/11/01/watch-a-video-illustration-of-modern-warfare-3-39-s-new-multiplayer-modes.aspxTue, 01 Nov 2011 17:35:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1388410Adam Biessener244http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1388410http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/11/01/watch-a-video-illustration-of-modern-warfare-3-39-s-new-multiplayer-modes.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3-overflow/modestrailer610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />You probably know about Kill Confirmed and Team Defender already, but have you watched them in action? This official &quot;behind the scenes&quot; video has tons of gameplay and developer explanation of two new multiplayer modes in Modern Warfare 3.<br /><br />(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>One cool thing that comes toward the end of the video is an explanation of how you can tailor custom games to your liking, for instance by turning off perks or killstreaks. That&#39;ll be nice when for the weeks when all anyone is doing in public games is glitching the inevitable care package bugs.</p>
<p>Other than that, this sure does look like some Modern Warfare, does it not? Let us know if you&#39;re more pumped about a) playing MW3 when it comes out on November 8th, b) trolling Battlefield 3 fans about Battlelog, or c) waiting for release weekend server woes to point out how totally right you are to like Battlefield better than Call of Duty.<br /><br />Otherwise, if you&#39;re one of the lucky 5 percent of Internet denizens more concerned with seeing cool games than yelling at your fellow gamers, check out the <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/29/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-maps-leak.aspx">leaked map list</a> or the <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/27/weapon-progression-detailed-for-modern-warfare-3.aspx">narrated weapon progression video</a>.</p>
<p>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comes out November 8 &ndash; a week from today! &ndash; on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Yes, it&#39;s also coming to Wii, but if the franchise&#39;s history on that console (and Activision&#39;s reticence to show that version off) is any indication, it&#39;ll be a terrible port not worth anyone&#39;s time.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1388410" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sledgehammer gamesmodern warfaremediavideoModern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Maps Leakhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/29/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-maps-leak.aspxSat, 29 Oct 2011 17:21:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1368983Matt Bertz277http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1368983http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/29/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-maps-leak.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3-overflow/Village600.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Peruse the layout of the 16 new hunting grounds where millions of players will set up camp come November 8. </p>
<p>We&#39;re not sure whether this leak came from a pirated copy of the game or a sneaky journalist who captured the shots during a review event, but either way now hardcore COD players can plot their ideal sniping spots, mark natural chokepoints, and chart safe navigation paths to minimize the threat of being shot in the back.</p>
<p>It&#39;s tough to say from these overviews whether the maps are bigger or smaller than those featured in previous Call of Duty games, but we&#39;ll find out soon enough.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1368983" width="1" height="1">ShooterPCPlayStation 3ActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3SledgehammerWeapon Progression Detailed For Modern Warfare 3http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/27/weapon-progression-detailed-for-modern-warfare-3.aspxThu, 27 Oct 2011 21:47:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1359571Matt Miller280http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1359571http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/27/weapon-progression-detailed-for-modern-warfare-3.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3-overflow/modernwarfare3_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>The soon-to-release Call of Duty sequel has a brand new approach to weapon upgrades, and the development team wants to tell you about it in this new video. <br /><br />For many players, the holiday season of gaming is virtually defined by the release of a new Call of Duty game. Whether you count yourself in that crowd or not, there&#39;s some new features on the way to multiplayer that might tweak your interest. <br /><br />The developers at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer put together this new video that explains the advances. In short, in addition to the existing weapon upgrade system, you&#39;ll unlock weapon proficiencies to further customize the way your gun handles.<br /><br />Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is set to rock the sales charts on November 8.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1359571" width="1" height="1">ShooterActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Sledgehammercall of duty: black opsActivision Releases Modern Warfare 3 Launch Trailerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/22/activision-releases-modern-warfare-3-launch-trailer.aspxSat, 22 Oct 2011 16:42:19 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1336935Kyle Hilliard579http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1336935http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/22/activision-releases-modern-warfare-3-launch-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3-overflow/modernwarfare3launch_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Modern Warfare 3 is less than a month away, and Activision has released the official launch trailer, which boldly proclaims itself as the most anticipated game in history. The video shows off a little bit of the story, and offers a few flashes of familiar characters. There are also lots and lots of vehicles crashing into other vehicles resulting in giant explosions.</p>
<p>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be available for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii on November 8.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1336935" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3battlefield 3New Behind The Scenes Multiplayer Video Shows Off Changeshttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/20/new-behind-the-scenes-multiplayer-video-shows-off-changes.aspxThu, 20 Oct 2011 18:11:55 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1328029Kyle Hilliard344http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1328029http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/20/new-behind-the-scenes-multiplayer-video-shows-off-changes.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3-overflow/modernwarfare3_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Activision has released a video covering the changes to Modern Warfare 3&#39;s multiplayer mode. Kill streaks are now referred to as point streaks, and the video explains why. Players now receive streak credit for things beyond just kills, in an attempt to cater to different styles of players. The video also looks at the new types of Strike Packages.</p>
<p>The Assault strike package seems to be the traditional Call of Duty package, heavily rewarding those who gain kills without dying. The Support strike package caters to those interested in helping others out. Streaks don&#39;t reset on death, and you get access to items like sentry drones and other support type weapons. The Specialist strike package has the player begin with three perks, and for every two kills a new perk is unlocked. By the time you have eight kills, you have all the perks and are a super-powered soldier. Check out the video below to get all the details.</p>
<p>It seems like Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer will feel a bit different than previous entries. Is this a good thing? Or do you want the developers to simply stick to what has already been working?</p>
<p>Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 releases for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Nintendo Wii on November 8.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1328029" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3strike packagespecialistmultiplayerassaultsupportbattlefield 3New Trailer Teases Single Player Campaignhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/07/new-trailer-teases-single-player-campaign.aspxFri, 07 Oct 2011 21:01:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1292147Bryan Vore342http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1292147http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/07/new-trailer-teases-single-player-campaign.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/610x0/__key/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles/imagefeed-featured-activision-call_2D00_of_2D00_duty-modern_2D00_warfare_2D00_3_2D00_overflow/mw39.30.11610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is almost upon us, so Activision is pulling back the curtain on what sorts of things will happen in the main campaign. Hint: it looks insane.</p>
<p>Watch below to see guys getting kicked, zero gravity, explosions, gunfire, and more.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1292147" width="1" height="1">ShooterPCPlayStation 3ActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Feast Your Eyes On Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Trailerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/09/02/feast-your-eyes-on-modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-trailer.aspxFri, 02 Sep 2011 13:44:21 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1199890Jeff Cork257http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1199890http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/09/02/feast-your-eyes-on-modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/modernwarfare30902-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Activision and Infinity Ward are hosting their first Call of Duty <a target="_blank" title="fan event" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/08/03/call-of-duty-xp-activities-revealed.aspx">fan event</a> this weekend, giving players an early look at Modern Warfare 3 among other things. If you weren&#39;t able to attend, it doesn&#39;t look as though you&#39;ll be missing out on everything. A trailer has surfaced online breaking down the eagerly awaited shooter&#39;s multiplayer.</p>
<p>The three-minute clip shows off the game&#39;s various multiplayer game types, weapons loadouts, and perks, all in glorious slow motion. Check it out below.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>Modern Warfare 3 ships on November 8 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><i>[Thanks for the tip, Steve!]</i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1199890" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Being The Juggernaut In Modern Warfare 3http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/being-the-juggernaut-in-modern-warfare-3.aspxWed, 17 Aug 2011 09:52:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1152100Adam Biessener0http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1152100http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/being-the-juggernaut-in-modern-warfare-3.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/modernwarfare3pc0523.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />You can take a lot of bullets in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 when you&rsquo;re wearing the Juggernaut suit. I found firsthand out just how many shots you can absorb before finally dropping. Many times over, as it turns out.<br /><br />Activision brought a new co-op mission to Gamescom this year, and I strapped into a Juggernaut suit to try and disarm several sets of IEDs on the streets of Berlin as an Activision community guy provided overwatch from a ruined tower nearby. <br /><br />The problem with being the Juggernaut is the utter lack of mobility. You walk slow. You sprint like an out-of-shape magazine editor. You turn like a hung over camel. If someone gets in your sights, they&rsquo;re utterly boned as the firepower you bring to bear is overwhelming, but it takes a different mindset to play the Juggernaut after you&rsquo;ve been <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/surviving-another-level-of-modern-warfare-3.aspx">sprinting around knifing waves of terrorists while being chased by dogs and helicopters</a>. Bounding from cover to cover is important, but it&rsquo;s more important to keep moving forward and accept the fact that a few gunshots to the chest won&rsquo;t drop you as you drive your enemies from their positions.<br /><br />Communicating with your partner is as critical as it always is in Call of Duty co-op. My Activision buddy was a whirlwind of death from his high perch, falling back to his one-shot-one-kill sniper rifle only when he was waiting for another chance to bring out a missile-firing UAV or other explosive aerial support. Nonetheless, my objective forced me out into the open to disarm improvised explosive devices while waves of enemies spawned down the street and did their best to stop the Juggernaut. It&rsquo;s a rough life, but an amusing one when you can stand in the open and gun down a half-dozen guys before you take enough damage to be forced to take cover.<br /><br />It took us three tries to make it through the level (my performance was not aided by the jet lag or by Call of Duty military advisor Col. Hank Kiersey smacking me in the back of the head when I did something stupid), but we eventually triumphed. Not before I ate several hundred terrorist slugs to the chest, back, legs, arms, face, and hands, but Berlin is safe until Activision fires up the next demo.&nbsp; Disarming explosives in Berlin and murdering scores of bad guys is entertaining enough, but the level is a one-trick pony compared to <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/surviving-another-level-of-modern-warfare-3.aspx">Survival mode&#39;s impressive variety</a>. Regardless, I&rsquo;m glad to see Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games bringing new ideas to Modern Warfare 3&rsquo;s co-op.<br /><br />Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on November 8.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1152100" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sledgehammer gamesmodern warfaregamescom2011hands onjuggernautSurviving Another Level Of Modern Warfare 3http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/surviving-another-level-of-modern-warfare-3.aspxWed, 17 Aug 2011 09:47:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1152092Adam Biessener67http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1152092http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/17/surviving-another-level-of-modern-warfare-3.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/MW3_3.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />Nineteen waves of enemies later, Infinity Ward&rsquo;s Robert Bowling and I finally went down for good &ndash; but not until we ranked up a half dozen times and shot a whole bunch of dudes (and dogs...man, I hate the dogs) dead.<br /><br />Modern Warfare 3&rsquo;s Survival mode is a solid addition to the two-player co-op Spec Ops side of the game. In some respects it&rsquo;s less impressive than the higher player counts found in similar modes in other games, but fighting off waves of enemies Call of Duty style is inarguably a distinct experience. The Counter-Strike-like economy is a great fit for the gametype, encouraging players to consider larger strategies than simply getting shot as little as possible.<br /><br />The Survival level Bowling and I played at Gamescom is tiny but interesting. A dual-level plaza takes up half the map, with underpasses offering cover from assault helicopters and small balconies and walkways creating wonderful overlapping firing angles from up high. The other half of the level is a house with two entrances: one opening onto the plaza, the other on the opposite side of the building giving access to the trio of relatively open roads surrounding the house. With only two players, you have to make tough decisions about where to take a stand. More than likely, you&rsquo;ll do what we did and pick different spots for different waves.<br />&nbsp;<br />The variety in the waves of incoming enemies is what made the experience work for me. Bowling and I were constantly on the move, our plans rarely surviving contact with the enemy as C4-strapped terrorists forced us to move, or dogs knocked us out of cover, or the inexorable advance of a Juggernaut left us no choice but to fall back. Some waves were nothing but assault helicopters, forcing us to play hide-and-seek as we tried to knock them out of the sky with assault rifles without being shredded by their miniguns.<br /><br />Wisely spending the cash earned by killing enemies and surviving waves is the difference between a good round and a great one. If you can hold off on buying a weapon until commandos strapped with ACRs show up and outfit yourself with one of their guns for free, putting that money into an airstrike, delta squad reinforcements, or buying back your extra life can mean pulling through a tough wave instead of knuckling under. I bought an early delta squad on a whim, and the purchase paid for itself many times over as my commando buddies lasted through a dozen waves and saved my life a handful of times.<br /><br />Wave 19 finally did us in. We had just made it through the eighteenth, which as I recall had ACR-toting, armored commandos pinning us down while their suicide C4 allies charged our positions. I&rsquo;m going to be real honest here: Bowling&rsquo;s skill with an assault rifle got us through that one. Well, that and a clutch knife by yours truly, but it was mostly Bowling&rsquo;s quick trigger finger. With both of our self-revives down and no cash to buy them back, we didn&rsquo;t have anything left in the tank to survive the massive wave of assault rifle grunts and attack dogs that came next.<br /><br />When all was said and done, we had gained several ranks (which in the live game would unlock new things for purchase during a round, but for demo purposes we had access to everything) and picked up a two-star score on survival mode. Not bad for two badly jet-lagged Americans in Germany.<br /><br />Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on November 8.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1152092" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sledgehammer gamesmodern warfaresurvivalspec opsgamescom2011robert bowlinghands onSee Modern Warfare 3's Survival Mode In Actionhttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/10/see-survival-mode-in-action.aspxWed, 10 Aug 2011 14:58:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:1131427Jeff Cork243http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=1131427http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/08/10/see-survival-mode-in-action.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/cod0810-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>A few months back, we <a target="_blank" title="brought you details" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/06/07/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-survival.aspx">brought you details</a> on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3&#39;s wave-based challenge, called survival mode. At the time, we highlighted our thoughts on how it plays, as well as our thoughts on some of the unlockable upgrades. If you&#39;d like to see it in motion for yourself, Activision and Infinity Ward have a released a new trailer showing off just that.</p>
<p>The clip shows the same Dome level we wrote about in June. As you can see from the trailer, it&#39;s significantly different in tone and pacing from the series&#39; now-standard zombie modes. The enemies are faster and smarter, and they play with a precision that online veterans are more accustomed to. Things ramp up quite quickly, so don&#39;t expect much breathing room once you hit start.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>Look for the game when it ships November 8, 2011.</p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1131427" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3mediaModern Warfare 3's Survival Mode Spices Up Spec Opshttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/06/07/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-survival.aspxTue, 07 Jun 2011 23:51:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:979452Dan Ryckert119http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=979452http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/06/07/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-survival.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/610x0/__key/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles/imagefeed-featured-activision-call_2D00_of_2D00_duty-modern_2D00_warfare_2D00_3/MW3_5F00_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>In 2011, a shooter with a horde mode is about as common as cars in a racing game. Modern Warfare 3 isn&#39;t the first to introduce a wave-based mode thanks to Treyarch&#39;s zombie modes, but it marks the first time they&#39;ve appeared in the Modern Warfare universe. Each and every multiplayer map supports survival play, and it&#39;ll be accessed via the Spec Ops menu.</p>
<p>I played on a map called Dome, which included a subterranean bunker and plenty of angry enemies. Things started easy enough, and I was able to take out the first few waves with nothing more than a pistol and plenty of stabbing. As I played, I earned cash that allowed me to purchase ammo, guns, equipment, and air support from various armories scattered about the map.</p>
<p>You can purchase new guns and upgrades to your existing ones, but you can also call in help from the sky. I called in a Delta squad who promptly rappelled down from a helicopter and joined my fight. You can also bring in riot guards and air strikes once you&#39;ve got the cash. My personal favorite from my time with the mode was the autoturret that did a great job of defending my turf from the invading forces.</p>
<p>Enemies are of the standard variety early on, but things get crazier as you advance through the waves. I eventually encountered dogs and boss fights, including juggernauts and helicopters. Later, suicide bombers appeared with C4 strapped to their backs. Once shot, a red light starts flashing that indicates you need to get away if you don&#39;t want to explode along with your enemy. Later, I even saw suicidal C4 dogs join the fray.</p>
<p>Waves aren&#39;t limited, so you can keep fighting as long as you can survive. Challenges will appear during every wave, which will reward you for getting killstreaks or performing other tasks.</p>
<p>I wasn&#39;t a huge fan of the zombie modes in previous games thanks to the lumbering nature of the enemies, but I was pleasantly surprised by this mode in Modern Warfare 3. Considering you&#39;re up against enemies that are smarter and much faster, the action is more engaging and intense. Many gamers are skeptical about how Modern Warfare 3 will turn out, but my time with Spec Ops has me optimistic about this particular portion of the title.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=979452" width="1" height="1">ShooterActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sledgehammer gamessurvivalspec opsLive Gameplay At Microsoft's E3 2011 Press Conferencehttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/06/06/live-gameplay-at-microsoft-39-s-e3-2011-press-conference.aspxMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:10:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:973406Adam Biessener51http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=973406http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/06/06/live-gameplay-at-microsoft-39-s-e3-2011-press-conference.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/underwater610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Activision&#39;s blockbuster shooter headlined Microsoft&#39;s E3 2011 press conference, kicking off this year&#39;s show with an explosive first-person battle in the New York City harbor.<br /><br />Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling cut a fine figure on Microsoft&#39;s stage as he guided Navy SEAL &quot;Frost&quot; through planting an underwater mine and then shooting his way through a Russian submarine.<br /><br />Gliding through the NYC harbor with a personal transport device, Frost dodges enemy mines by keeping an eye on his sonar display on his way to forcing the sub to surface by strapping a powerful explosive to its hull.<br /><br />Frost follows the sub up to the surface and confronts a dramatic view of the naval battle raging around him as his head bursts into the air. The SEALs waste no time breaking into the sub itself, and Frost mostly watches his comrades sweeping the feeble resistance from their path on the way to the sub&#39;s control room.<br /><br />Bowling skips the demo ahead to the presumed end of the level, and Frost joins one of his fellow SEALs in turning the commander&#39;s keys in a launch console. Is the U.S. nuking the Russians with their own missiles?<br /><br />Having hijacked the deadly payload, Frost and his team exfiltrate via inflatable raft. This final sequence plays out much like the snowmobile chase from Modern Warfare 2, as Bowling appeared to be driving his boat through a largely predetermined path on his way to the evac chopper. The best moments shown come during this bit, as Frost shoots the mines on the aft of a Russian pursuit boat and blow the craft fully in half. The waves of the tumultuous bay wash over the SEALs&#39; small crafts as dozens of huge ships launch missiles and trade large-bore gunfire.<br /><br />Sledgehammer Games head Glen Schofield closes the demo by coming onstage and reiterating his excitement to be working on the Modern Warfare franchise along with Infinity Ward.<br /><br />The preview delivered the Modern Warfare vibe with its dramatic spectacles and outstanding audiovisual fidelity, but I have to express some concern at the fact that the franchise&#39;s single-player appears mired in the same tired design cliches Call of Duty has been rocking for years. As much as I like riding these rollercoasters, I&#39;m ready to do more than follow my AI companions along from checkpoint to checkpoint.<br /><br />We should be learning a lot more about Modern Warfare 3 as we near its November 8 release date.<br /><br />For more on E3 2011, head to our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gameinformer.com/p/e32011.aspx">hub page</a> that will direct you to all of our extensive E3 coverage. If you&#39;re looking for more on Microsoft&#39;s press conference as it happens, join Jeff Cork and Phil Kollar at our <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/p/e3live.aspx">ongoing liveblog</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=973406" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewModern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sledgehammer gamesmicrosoft2011modern warfaree32011Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops Details Surfacehttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/05/27/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-details-surface.aspxFri, 27 May 2011 18:47:24 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:949370Matt Bertz142http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=949370http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/05/27/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-details-surface.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/MW3_2.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>You can&#39;t deny its popularity, but Call of Duty multiplayer is not for everyone. Many people buy the games for the short and sweet single-player campaigns, and would rather challenge their skills in Spec Ops challenges than suffer through the verbal lashings and ultra-quick trigger fingers that define the average COD multiplayer match. Activision recognizes the apprehension to jump online, and hopes to offer more replay value for these gamers with Modern Warfare 3&#39;s revamped Spec Ops mode. <br /><br />&quot;There&#39;s such hardcore players out there in the online community and you hear all the stories about (youngsters) swearing and ruining the experience,&quot; Michael Condrey of Sledgehammer Games told the <i>USA Today</i>. &quot;With Spec Ops, you can really get in there and hone your skills in a more confined environment. I think it&#39;s a little more of an easy entry. I don&#39;t have as much time as I did when I was 20 to be honing my twitch skills, but this certainly gives me a venue to experiment.&quot;<br /><br />According to the <i>USA Today</i>, co-developers Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games are beefing up the Spec Ops mode with online matchmaking, leaderboards, and a separate progression system from multiplayer. The centerpiece of the renovation, however, is a new Horde-like Survival mode that takes place on the multiplayer maps.<br /><br />As you would expect, players face off against unlimited waves of increasingly difficult enemies. The map USA Today played, called Dome, featured a &quot;Cold War-era desert radar command bunker&quot; and some creative new enemies like suicide bomber dogs that explode a few seconds after you put them down. When the waves become too much to suppress with your assault rifle, you can use in-game currency to purchase defensive enhancements like turrets.</p>
<p>To read more about Survival mode, head over to the <a target="_blank" href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/05/survival-mode-in-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3/1"><i>USA Today</i> preview</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=949370" width="1" height="1">ShooterCall of DutyPCPlayStation 3ActivisionInfinity WardXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3SledgehammerCan Infinity Ward Win The War Against All Odds?http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/05/26/can-infinity-ward-win-the-war-against-all-odds.aspxThu, 26 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:945656Phil Kollar355http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=945656http://www.gameinformer.com/games/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_3/b/xbox360/archive/2011/05/26/can-infinity-ward-win-the-war-against-all-odds.aspx#comments<div class="paginated-post" rel="2"><div class="paginated-post-page" rel="1"><p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/call-of-duty/modern-warfare-3/MW3_3.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Following a series of surprisingly thorough leaks, Activision has finally unveiled Modern Warfare 3, the follow-up to one of 2009&rsquo;s best-selling games and the first release from Infinity Ward since its founding members left along with a huge chunk of the team. There&rsquo;s very little doubt as to how well a new Call of Duty game is going to sell, but can it live up to the high expectations left by its predecessor despite all the drama surrounding its creation? My first look left this question frustratingly unanswered.</p>
<p>The first thing to note about Modern Warfare 3 is that Activision made the smart and possibly necessary decision that Infinity Ward could not handle the development alone. Instead, the remnants of the studio that created Call of Duty are teaming up with Sledgehammer Games, a new Activision studio started by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield. Sledgehammer was previously said to be working on a third-person Call of Duty title that is presumably on hold while it helps with Modern Warfare 3. </p>
<p>MW 3 picks up shortly following the end of the second game, with the world embroiled in an intense conflict. Once again, players globetrot across continents during the single-player campaign. Exotic locations such as the Himalayas were mentioned, but the focus is on larger scale urban warfare in cities such as New York and London, the two locations shown off during the first demo. </p>
<p>The Manhattan level, titled &ldquo;Black Tuesday,&rdquo; starts the player character in a crashed Humvee. As he comes to and climbs out, he looks up at the crumbling New York skyline. Debris from collapsing buildings falls dangerously close. A lone hot dog cart stands in the ruins, looking absurd with its colorful umbrella amidst the dust and wreckage, ready to be used as cover for an inevitable firefight. Infinity Ward enjoyed playing with the idea of fighting on recognizable home turf in Modern Warfare 2, and it&rsquo;s running with that concept for this game as well. </p>
<p>Infinity Ward isn&rsquo;t spilling many details on Modern Warfare 3&rsquo;s plot, but the Russians still seem to be the key bad guys. In &ldquo;Black Tuesday,&rdquo; the player has to fight through a sea of enemies to get to Wall Street. He runs and guns alongside characters with names like Sandman and Grinch &ndash; the goofy kind of codenames that you&rsquo;d expect your Call of Duty buddies to be burdened with.</p></div></div><script type="text/javascript">PaginateGrid();</script><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=945656" width="1" height="1">ShooterXbox 360PreviewCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3